Flagg.īefore the end of 1918, Flagg illustrated nearly 50 drawings, advertisements and posters for Washington’s wartime propaganda department known as the Committee on Public Information (or simply the Creel Commission). James Montgomery Flagg.įlagg, who had been working as a commercial artist since the age of 12 and was a regular contributor to Life and the satirical Judge magazine, was only too happy to lend his considerable talents to the national war effort. Within weeks, just about every American citizen had seen it. (Image source: WikiCommons) Iconic Imageįour million copies of the poster were quickly printed and plastered onto walls and signposts from Maine to California. Army” announced a caption below in bold red and blue capital letters.
It featured a stern-faced Uncle Sam pointing outward with his right index finger, his eyes glaring directly at the viewer. Shortly after America’s declaration of war against Germany in 1917, the 40-year-old veteran magazine illustrator from Pelham Manor, New York composed a drawing for the United States Army‘s recruitment campaign. YOU’VE PROBABLY NEVER heard the name James Montgomery Flagg, but it’s a safe bet that you know his most famous artistic creation rather well. Within weeks, just about every American citizen had seen it.” (Image source: WikiCommons) “Four million copies of the poster were quickly printed and plastered onto walls and signposts from Maine to California. Flagg’s iconic Uncle Sam “I Want YOU” poster. More than two million Americans signed up to fight in France during the First World War.